Ariz. woman accused of trying to poison children

By BRIAN SKOLOFF , Associated Press

Dec. 30, 20133:35 PM ET

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona woman tried to fatally stab her ex-husband and poison her four children with prescription narcotic drugs, including a teenage daughter who was found dead in her home on Christmas Day, police said Monday.

Uncredited

This undated booking photo provided by the Casa Grande Police Department shows Connie Villa. Villa, 35, was arrested Sunday, Dec. 28, 2013 on suspicion of one count of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder on Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013 in Casa Grande, Ariz. Villa, from Arizona is accused of trying to poison her four children, including one who died, and of stabbing her former husband. (AP Photo/Casa Grande Police Department)

This undated booking photo provided by the Casa Grande Police Department shows Connie Villa. Villa, 35, was arrested Sunday, Dec. 28, 2013 on suspicion of one count of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder on Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013 in Casa Grande, Ariz. Villa, from Arizona is accused of trying to poison her four children, including one who died, and of stabbing her former husband. (AP Photo/Casa Grande Police Department)

She lured the man to her apartment and stabbed him repeatedly before he was able to flee and drive himself to a hospital while calling 911.

Connie Villa, 35, was arrested Sunday after being released from a hospital on suspicion of one count of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder in the Christmas Day attack in Casa Grande, about 50 miles south of Phoenix.

It was not immediately known whether she had an attorney. A possible motive hasn't been disclosed, but investigators have found no history of mental illness or previous calls to the home during their initial probe. The investigation was ongoing.

According to authorities, the ex-husband, Adam Villa, called 911 after fleeing the apartment with multiple stab wounds. He remained hospitalized Monday in stable condition. Responding officers found the body of Aniarael Macias, 13, lying on a bathroom floor, said Casa Grande police Officer Thomas Anderson.

The body had no visible signs of injury or trauma, and an autopsy report was inconclusive on the cause of death, Anderson said.

Authorities are awaiting toxicology results, which could take up to a month, but they believe she was likely poisoned.

The three other children, ages 3, 5 and 8, were in good condition. Anderson said initial tests show each child had trace amounts of opiates in their systems.

Authorities would only say the drugs found in the apartment were "prescription narcotics."

"Our investigation indicates Connie Villa forced her children to take prescription narcotic drugs in an attempt to kill them," police said in a statement.

Upon arriving at the home Wednesday, police were forced to break in and found Connie Villa standing in the apartment with what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds to her torso, a knife in her hand and the three young children at her side.

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona woman tried to fatally stab her ex-husband and poison her four children with prescription narcotic drugs, including a teenage daughter who was found dead in her home on Christmas Day, police said Monday.